The Ministry Wheel is designed in hope of having full participation in the life of the church! Ideally,EVERYONE will have a ministry that they are connected to! The HOPE is that everyone doing a little would get a lot done! Whatever your gifts or interests are, there is room for you to serve at Immanuel! The ministry wheel is laid out with seven major ministry areas and within each of those areas, there are a multitude of ways to serve!
This month we are celebrating the WORSHIP MINISTRY TEAM! This team focuses on providing opportunities for our congregation to serve God and others through worship. The following are the areas of the Worship Ministry Team and the leaders of each area. PLEASE contact the leaders directly if you would like to assist with a specific area!
Overall Leadership of the Worship Ministry Team: Jane Johnson.
The opportunities of the Worship Ministry Team are as follows:
- Worship Planning Team meets bi-monthly to select the settings and hymns appropriate to the church calendar. Plans are also made at the time for special services such as All Saints’, Advent, Lent, Tri Church worship, etc. The team is comprised of Lori Attig, Virginia Schumaker, Jane Johnson, Sue Dirks and Pastor Bree. You are most welcome to join in the planning of meaningful worship to the glory of God. Contact Jane Johnson or Pastor if you would like to assist on the Worship Planning Team.
- The duties of the Altar Guild are many and varied. There is a reason behind each aspect of all they do: from preparing the communion elements for worship each week to changing the paraments according to the church calendar and seeing that our altar linens which represent the burial wrapping of Christ are kept spotless and so much more! The Altar Guild also serves at funerals by placing the pall and serving communion if requested. The Altar Guild meets quarterly and as needed. Please contact Altar Guild’s Convener and point person, Pauline Moeller, if you would like to help with Altar Guild. Anyone who feels called to be a part of this very important part of worship is welcome!
- Lectors, Cantors & Worship Assistants all make worship possible. Lectors read scripture in worship a few times throughout out the year. People of all ages are welcome to lector! Cantors lead the singing portions of the liturgy. Worship Assistants led some spoken portions of the liturgy. There are some settings that require chanting of the liturgy. You can sign up to lector, cantor or assist with church leadership by contacting Pastor or the church office.
- Communion Assistants help serve communion each Sunday. If you would like to help serve communion, please contact Pastor or the church office.
- Ushers are also a part of the Worship Ministry. Ushers hand out bulletins each Sunday, collect and present the offerings of the congregation at the altar. In addition they usher people to communion, alert communion servers to any people who would like communion but can not leave the pew and count worship attendance. Sign up sheet is outside the office.
- Acolytes are worship assistants. They light the candles at the beginning of the service, assist with communion, at times assist Pastor with the communion liturgy, accept the offerings as presented by the ushers, extinguish the candles following worship and often speak the sending as “the last word.” These young people are a very important part of the service and are usually in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Please contact the church office if you would like to be added to the acolyte list.
- Musical Groups: Immanuel is blessed to have a variety of musical teams. Adult Choir under the leadership of Lori Attig which sings during the offering on the second Sunday of the month. The Praise Team leads worship music on the second and fifth Sundays of the month under the direction of Lori Attig. The Bell Choir under the leadership of Virginia Schumaker plays the first Sunday of the month. Immanuel is so blessed to have the talents and leadership of Virginia and Lori! Immanuel is also blessed by all the musicians and singers who share their talents to the Glory of God. You are most welcome to join in serving in Adult Choir, Praise Team or Bell Choir! Contact Lori or Virginia if you are interested.
- People of Immanuel are welcome to provide Special Music each Sunday during the offering. If you can play an instrument or just want to raise your voice in praise, please contact Virginia Schumaker to sign up for the date of your choosing. Come and make a joyful noise to the Lord!
- AV and technology support – Volunteers staff the sound board and projection system each Sunday. If you are interested in being a part of this integral team, please contact Lori Attig.
- ART- Do you have artistic gifts you’d like to share? Whether you work with fabric, paint or pottery, your gifts could help us worship God more! Contact Pastor to learn more about ways you could serve.
- There is room for you and your gifts in Worship Ministry! Please prayerfully consider participating in an aspect of Worship Ministry.
A HUGE THANKS to ALL who are already serving through worship ministry! You make a HUGE difference in our worship each week!